The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-20
Wonder what's upqp Jack asked

Wonder what's up?" Jack asked
But just then q merry hail from a
distant clump of trees made Mays
face dimple roguishly.
''Seei There is Inez standing under
that big oak, and her brother is in the
tree away near the top. He is waving
his hand to US"
So he was. Far up among the
leaves, where he had climbed, Lionel
was swaying with the slight branches,
and leaning forward to attract their
attention; the sunlight living warm and
soft on his laughing powerful face.
which was as rich an olive as though
Spain claimed him for her son.
How handsome he is How prince
lyi' May thought, with sharp pang
at her heart In this whole world
there is nobody like him."
Then there was the crashing sound
of breaking branches rustling,
rushing noise, the duh thud of a body
striking on the earth, and from the
lips of two girls who saw Lionel Bra
bos fall with stunning force, rang the
wild cries of anguished alright, of
fierce, overmastering terror.
A moment later and Inez-who had
flung herself ON her knees beside the
strangely-still figure of her idolized
brother-was pushed aside by hands
that were too strong and untender to
her, through the frantic emotion of
their owner, and MAY Carol. the
promised wife of Jack Hammond, the
belle of hundred bathrooms, was
kneeling over Lionel Brabos, a blaneh-
ed agony on her young face, which
comes only on the faces of women
when what is more dear to them than
life is in peril.
"Oh, he is not dead, Jack, tell me
he is not deadW she cried, never re-
moving her eyes from the still uncon-
scious face that lay upturned before
her.
And Jack, with brotherly kindness,
laid his hand on her shoulder.
Il trust not, for your sake, dear, Z"
he said; and there was only tender
sympathy in his voice-none of tho
lovers resentment or sorrow.
At that moment the dark eyes of
Lionel unclosed with slow and Ian
guild WEAKNESS, and fixed themselves
on the face of the girl who knelt be-
side HIM.
A strange new light stole into them
as he looked, then tenderness and love
untold met the blue eyes above.
MY dearest, have l alarmed YOU?
l was stunned. 1t is nothing" he
whispered, then, softly, as his hand
stole up and pressed hers. You care
enough for me to pale like that? My
darling
Jack, who had heard every word,
turned TO IneZ, and took her trembling
hand in his.
Your brother is not injured by his
fall, he said gently. They do not
want US. VIII you come with me to
the spot where l first saw you-the
shadow of the big chestnut-and let
me tell you somethingP 1 have much
to say to you, Miss Brabos."
But" said Inez, with startled
glance toward the others, who had
forgotten all things save themselves
and the love which had found voice at
last-"but thought Miss Carol was
to be your wife; 1 thought she loved
you"
"And that loved herP So did 1;
but now both May and l know other
wise. She knew, the very first time
she saw your brother; / knew-oh,
IutL3 L hLCN idlG1 w Iltu Dtu
your yoice-and it had seemed the
sweetest music in the world to me.
Nay; they do not want us, and want
you, my beautiful child. Come with
me, and let me tell you of my love, so
passionate and strong-my deep and
| lasting love for you"
She looked to where May knelt, still
under the maple, with Lionel seated
beside her, pale it is true, but with
love-ight glorifying his handsome
| face, the hands of the city belle held
fast in both of his; and her dainty
young cheeks flushed, as she cast down
her eyes and extended her pretty hand
to Jack.
And so it came to pass that the two
who thought they had brought love
with them, found it there, waiting for
| them, under the broad branches of the
| old chestnut-tree.
May makes a model farmers wife
at least so Lionel asserts; and IneZ,
| in her city home, is so sweet a hostess
! and so fair tireside figure that Jack
lazily advises his bachelor friends to
go courting to the most quiet part OF
the country, and they VOW they will
| do so.